TAWG - July 27, 2023 - Exodus 1:1-22
July 27, 2023

Exodus 1:1-22

1:1-6 | The opening verses of Exodus provide context for Moses’ life: the children of Israel were in Egypt because the family Jacob had been led there by the providence of God (Gen. 37-50).

1:7 | About 600,000 men of fighting age left Egypt (12:37). Factoring in older men, women, children, and the infirm, the total number of Hebrew people was probably about 2.5 million by this time. The children of Israel had truly multiplied in the 370 years or so since Jacob and his family of 70 had arrived in the land.

1:8-11 | Nearly 400 years of history are summarized in these verses, representing a line of pharaohs, not just one. The new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph was likely one of the pharaohs during the Hyksos takeover (beginning c. 1720 BC). Even after Egypt’s native rulers returned to power (c. 1550 BC), the Hebrew people were no longer honored in memory of Joseph.

1:11-22 | Three unsuccessful methods were used to limit the exploding population growth of the Hebrews: (1) working the Hebrews to exhaustion, and even to death; (2) commanding the Hebrew midwives to commit infanticide; (3) selective annihilation, with baby boys being cast into the River Nile while baby girls were spared.

1:15-22 | Shiphrah and Puah – possibly leaders of the guild of midwives – refused to commit infanticide, fearing the real King more than their earthly ruler (Luke 12:4-5; Acts 5:29). These women were likely Egyptians who came to faith in Yahweh and were included in Israel (He provided households for them).